Location: Reading, Hybrid
Hours: 37 per week
Salary: £27,792
Contract Type: Permanent
Campaign Closes: 13th November 2025
First Stage Interviews: 26th November 2025
Second Stage Interviews: TBC
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children with critical illnesses? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where empathy, precision, and people skills come together? Join Make-A-Wish UK as a Wish Referral Officer and be the guiding light at the start of every wish journey. You will be the warm, reassuring voice that helps families navigate the first steps of their magical experience, all while managing vital relationships and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Core Purpose
The Wish Referral Officer is responsible for processing new referrals and stewarding the wish child and their application through the initial stages of their wish journey, whilst providing excellent stakeholder management. A Wish Referral Officer is responsible for facilitating and managing a large network of relationships such as the wish child and their family, medical professionals, charities, volunteers and referral partners. As each wish is unique, accurate record keeping, data privacy and safeguarding are essential for every wish and experience. This role requires the ability to work at a high pace while maintaining strong attention to detail, with data management and accuracy forming core aspects of day-to-day responsibilities.
Essential Criteria
To be successful in this role you will need:
- Experience in an administrative role
- Experience of handling large volumes of data accurately, within a fast-paced environment
- Experience in customer service role with set targets and data management
- Demonstrate the ability to be flexible and change priorities within short time frames
- Excellent organisational and prioritising skills to support an ever-changing workload
- To be able to confidently communicate through all communication methods to multiple stakeholders
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Calm and professional, especially when dealing with emotional situations
- Excellent IT and administration skills including experience in processing/inputting data and MS Office
- Ability to work on own initiative without supervision
- A personal commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities
- Experience in using CRM systems
Personal Qualities
- Maintain a professional, caring, friendly and helpful manner always whilst dealing with wish children, their families, volunteers, suppliers as well as other stakeholders
- Strong empathy with wish families understanding that each child is an individual and may have needs
- The ability to be able to build strong relationships
- Maintain high levels of attention to detail
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Punctual and reliable
- Friendly, courteous and professional
- Be motivated to always support the charity and its objectives
Key Responsibilities:
Referral Enablement
- Process new referrals submitted by Community Referral Partners, health and social care professionals, ensuring accurate data entry, and excellent stakeholder management both through both written and verbal communication.
- Proactively manage a dynamic caseload of 150–200 wishes at any given time, ensuring each wish application progresses efficiently through the various stages of the wish journey in alignment with established referral targets and service timelines. This includes monitoring progress, identifying and resolving potential delays, maintaining accurate records, and self-allocating new referrals in line with organisational priorities
- Take ownership of the weekly coordination and distribution of wish referral materials, ensuring all communications and resources are prepared, reviewed, and delivered accurately and on time to key stakeholders—including Community Referral Partners, wish families, and internal teams—to support a seamless and consistent referral process.
- Monitor and maintain the accuracy and integrity of data across internal systems to ensure full compliance with service level agreements (SLAs), data protection regulations, and organisational protocols. This includes conducting regular data audits, identifying and correcting discrepancies, and working collaboratively with internal teams to uphold high standards of data quality, which are essential for effective decision-making, reporting, and service delivery.
- Collaborate with the Wish Discovery Coordinator to facilitate the effective involvement of Make-A-Wish UK volunteers, ensuring families receive the support they need throughout the wish experience. This includes coordinating volunteer assignments, arranging interpreter services where required, and promoting a seamless, inclusive, and supportive journey for every wish family.
- Ensure all referral processes, service level agreements (SLAs), and Make-A-Wish UK eligibility criteria are consistently followed, maintaining full compliance with organisational policies and procedures. This includes accurately assessing referral information against eligibility requirements, escalating any concerns, queries, or ambiguities to the appropriate team or line manager for review, and ensuring all decisions are documented and communicated clearly. Additionally, maintain strong communication with stakeholders to ensure clarity around eligibility decisions and support a fair, transparent referral process.
- Ensure the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are always reflected within the wish process.
- Support the Wish Referral Team Manager and Wish Referral Lead and Make-A-Wish UK in achieving our goal to reach every eligible child within the UK.
Stakeholder Communication
- Act as the first point of contact for all Wish Granting (WG)–related queries and enquiries, responding promptly and professionally via email, phone, WhatsApp, and post. Ensure that all stakeholders—including wish families, volunteers, and referral partners—receive a high-quality, compassionate, and consistent customer service experience
- Ensure accurate communications with referral partners, wish children and their families/guardians, employees, and volunteers in relation to wish applications.
- Ensure that our service level agreements are met, and stakeholder expectations are sensitively and professionally managed in line with our policies.
- Liaise with other charity partners to assess whether referred wish children meet Make-A-Wish UK’s eligibility criteria. Where referrals do not meet the criteria, collaborate with the Wish Referral Partner Manager to ensure that referrers receive clear, constructive feedback and gain a full understanding of Make-A-Wish UK’s eligibility requirements, supporting transparent and informed referral practices.
Systems and Processes:
- Collaborate with the Wish Referral Team Manager to identify and implement improvements to the wish journey experience, ensuring it is seamless, inclusive, and positive for all stakeholders. Contribute feedback, insights, and suggestions to enhance processes, communication, and overall service delivery in line with organisational goal
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records within our CRM system (Salesforce), ensuring data integrity and consistency, at all times.
- Follow internal processes to ensure wish children and their families move through the wish journey smoothly, and always in line with our service level agreements.
- Actively participate and engage in project work, providing constructive insights and ideas to enhance the wish journey for every wish child.
Safeguarding and Data Governance:
- Ensure all wish records and related data are stored and maintained on Make-A-Wish Information Systems and that all data is managed within set policies and procedures (such as data privacy, liability, consent forms, marketing permissions etc.)
- Facilitate a culture of safeguarding awareness. Identify, report and escalate any issues or concerns in line with organisational processes and procedures.
- Raise safeguarding concerns and complete relevant internal procedure
Together, we create joy, happiness and magical memories through life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Head of Finance & Operations
We are looking for a Head of Finance & Operations to join our growing team in this flexible, remote working role (4 days per week).
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role within an organisation that is transforming environmental philanthropy across the UK.
Position: Head of Finance & Operations
Location: Remote (occasional travel to London and other UK locations)
Salary: £60,000 per annum, pro rata
Hours: 4 days a week (flexible working considered for the right candidate)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 11:59pm on Sunday 23rd November 2025
The Role
As Head of Finance & Operations, you will play a pivotal role in leading EFN’s financial, operational, and HR functions, ensuring the organisation continues to thrive and deliver on its ambitious strategy.
Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), you will join the Leadership Team and work closely with the ED and Board of Trustees to ensure sound financial management, operational excellence, and a supportive, effective working culture.
You will:
- Lead on day-to-day financial management, including reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and audit processes
- Oversee governance, compliance, and risk management across all areas of operations
- Manage HR, IT, and systems to support our remote-working team
- Drive continuous improvement in policies, processes, and internal systems (including Salesforce and Xero)
- Provide strategic insight and deputise for the ED when required
- Support staff development and wellbeing, ensuring a positive and inclusive organisational culture
This is a new role reflecting EFN’s recent growth and commitment to strengthening its operational foundations for long-term impact.
About You
We are seeking an experienced and strategic finance and operations leader who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
You will have:
- Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or AAT)
- At least 7 years’ experience in financial and operational management within the charity sector
- Strong understanding of HR, IT, risk management, and governance in small teams
- Proven experience managing budgets, audits, and charity accounts (Xero experience ideal)
- Excellent project management and strategic planning skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to lead and mentor others
- A proactive, organised, and solutions-focused approach
Desirable:
- Knowledge of UK charity governance and reporting requirements
- Experience working with philanthropists, funders, or in the environmental sector
- Interest in climate and biodiversity issues
Benefits Include:
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata
- 7% employer pension contribution
- Flexible working arrangements
- Learning and development opportunities
- Home working allowance, laptop, and IT support
About the Organisation
The Environmental Funders Network (EFN) is a UK-based charity dedicated to transforming environmental philanthropy. We work to increase the scale and effectiveness of environmental giving by supporting funders, sharing insight and research, and fostering collaboration across the sector.
EFN is a remote-working organisation with a UK-wide network of over 1,000 funders and 1,800 fundraisers, all committed to creating a thriving planet for future generations.
If you are passionate about supporting environmental impact through strategic finance and operational leadership, we would love to hear from you.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job title: Admissions Officer
Reports to: Head of Language Programme
Location: Hybrid work with 40% from Breaking Barriers’ office in London, Manchester or Birmingham
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), part-time considered. Open to flexible working.
Contract: Permanent
Overall purpose
The Programme Admissions Officer will be responsible for processing client applications, including conducting initial calls, checking eligibility and signposting where applicable. They would then flag new applicants with the relevant team/programme. This role is the gateway to accessing our services and plays a critical role in providing a positive and seamless client experience. As we enter a new and exciting stage of strategic development, this role has the potential to grow and develop in line with our evolving service model.
To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accesible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.
Other considerations
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As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
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We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.
Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
How to apply
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
- Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role)
Closing date for applications is Sunday 16 November at 11:30pm. Please note, interviews will be held online on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supportd organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and / or are from a refugee background.
If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for independent and confidential support with your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach to HR Manager, Caroline Meechan for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert but you can find contact details in the recruitment pack).
If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a statement of interest (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:
- Why you are interested in the role
- What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
- Any experience you would like to highlight
- Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
- Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role).
Breaking Barriers exists so that every refugee can access meaningful employment and build a new life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.